Slip socket



L. V. MALLORY Dec. 7, 1937.

SLIP SOCKET Filed NOV, 25, 1936 Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLIP SOCKET Louis V. Mallory, Salina, Kans., assignor of onehalf to Grover C. Dale, Salina, Kans.

Application November 25, 1936, Serial No. 112,833

11 Claims.

This invention relates to slip sockets and more particularly to a device of that character,

the

purpose of which is to recover lost tools from oil wells.

In drilling wells and particularly oil wells the drilling tools occasionally become disengaged from their actuating means at the surface of the ground, either by breaking due to the jarring effect when being reciprocated in a well hole to drill out same, or the tools become unscrewed due to the twisting action of drilling tools incident to the drilling operation.

In either event,

the

tools must be saved, if possible, to avoid both the expense of their loss and to permit further drilling in that particular well hole.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a slip socket capable of expeditiously retrieving lost drilling tools from a well hole.

avoiding loss of the gripping means and tool.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through a hole and casing illustrating a slip socket Well sus-

pended therein embodying the features yofthe present invention, the slip socket being-shown in normal condition prior to engagement with a tool to be retrieved.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the slip socket in engagement with a well tool for withdrawing same from the well.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of my proved slip socket showing the individual parts thereof in disassembled relation to each other.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 4 4, Fig. 1, particularly illustrating the pins for mounting and retaining the trap sleeve in the bore of the slip socket.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 55, Fig. 1, showing the gripping balls held in their races by the trap sleeve.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 5 6, Fig. 2, showing the gripping balls in engagement with a well tool.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates a well hole having a drill casing 2 in which a lost well tool 3 such as a drill bit or the like, which has become disengaged from a string of tools, is lodged in the mud or sand at the bottom of the well hole.

My improved slip socket is generally designated 4, the upper end 5 (Fig. 3) of which is preferably threadedly engaged in the socket 6 of a. telescop` ing stem or jar connection l, which in turn is extended to the top of the well by suitable means (not shown) to connect with a source of power for raising and lowering the slip socket.

The slip socket 4 consists of a body portion or member 8 which is provided with a central cylindrical bore 9 of a diameter larger than the head of a tool similar to that indicatedat 3 and which extends substantially into the body portion, the bore being tapered outwardly and downwardly from a point I spaced above the open lower end thereof to the outer surface of the'body portion for forming a iiared or belled end II which facilitates the finding of a lost tool due to the greater diameter of the bore at that point and 'which directs the upper end thereof into the bore of the body portion.- Y

A series of ball races I2 is provided preferably spaced about the periphery of the body portion 8 ofthe slipsocket, the races originating substantially midway the length of the socket on the outer surface thereof and extending inwardly and downwardly toward the lower end of the bore of the socket to terminate in entrances I3 to the central bore 9.

' Housed in the ball races I2 are balls I4 preferably formed of hardened steel to grip the tool 3 byV gravitation downwardly into engagement therewith for withdrawing same from the well as later described.

In order to selectively retain the balls I4 within the races, I provide a trap sleeve I having an outer diameter adapting the sleeve for snugly fitting Within the cylindrical bore 9 and an inner bore I6 of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the tool to'be sought and retrieved, so that when the lost tool isfound and directed into the bore the'upper end of the tool engages the lower end of the sleeve to raise same. Thel trap sleeve I5 is of a length substantially greaterV than the inner entrances I3 of the races I2 and when in downward position, as shown in Fig. 1, covers said entrances to retain the balls in the races. 'Ihe sleeve is provided with a pair of slots I1 for slidingly mounting the sleeve in the bore 9 on dowels I8 having threaded shanks I9 projecting through the body portion of the socket, the dowels extending into the cylindrical bore 9 and slots of the sleeve. Downwarcl movement of the trap sleeve I5 is limited by engagement of the dowels with the sleeve at the upper end of the sleeve slot and upward movement of the trap sleeve is limited by the body portion of the slip socket at the upper end of the cylinder bore 9 as shown in Fig. 2.

Mud and sand and similar non-solid foreign matter which normally accumulates about a lost tool in a well hole is apt to hinder the operation of the gripping device upon admission thereof into the bore by effecting raising ofthe trap sleeve I5 and either clogging the ball races or permitting the balls to escape from their races. For this reason, it is desirable to frictionally retain the sleeve I5 over the ball race entrance ports in such a manner that it requires actual contact with a lost tool to raise the sleeve upwardly for permitting gripping engagement of the balls with the tool. This is accomplished by the set-screws 28 which are extended through threaded bores 2I in the slip socket body portion and which, with the dowels I8, are preferably positioned in spaced alternate relation between the outer entrances of the ballraces in such a manner that the inner entrances of the ball races are normally covered, the set-screws extending into frictional engagement with the sleeve I5. The screws 29 are of such length that the outer ends thereof are slightly inset relative tothe outer surface of the slip socket when their inner ends are contacting the sleeve.

In order to selectively retain the gripping balls within their passageways and'prevent loss thereof in an outward direction, the upper end of the slip socket is machined to a diameter slightly less than the lower end thereof to provide an annular shoulder 22 at the lower portion of the outer entrances of the gripping ball races for seating the lower end of a sleeve 23, whichis sleeved over the upper end ofY the slip socket to cover the outer entrance ports of the races. A set-screw 24 may ,also be provided extending through a slot 25 in the sleeve and-into a threaded hole 2B therefor in the body portion 8 for retaining the sleeve in position in such a manner that a smooth outer surface is provided for the slip socket body portion. Y

The slot 25 is of substantially S-shape and consists of horizontal portions 21 and 28 connected by a diagonal portion 29, whereby the sleeve may be partially rotated to the right to raise and lock the sleeve in ball race loading or unloading position, that is, for insertion orwithdrawal of the gripping balls from the races, rotation of the sleeve in a reverse direction returning same for locking in functional or normal position. Holes 30 are also provided near? the upper endof the sleeve, particularly forV use on large tools, for the application of a Spanner, or like wrench, to `assist in turning the sleeve.

In operating an apparatus constructed 'as described the slip socket is lowered into the well by the jar connection I which,` if the well contains mud and sand or the like, seats on the socket 6 to force the slip socket downwardly as shown in Fig. 2, themud and sand venting to Vthe well hole from the interiorof the' socket through the escape holes 3| in the upper end 5 thereof. When the upper end of the lostftool is found by fishing with the bell-shaped end of the socket, the tool is directed into the cylindrical bore of the slip socket, forcing the trap sleeve upwardly against frictional engagement with the friction screws to release the gripping balls for gravitation downwardly into engagement with the well tool, it being apparent that the balls will not be lost due to the contiguous surface formed by the sleeve and tool within the bore, nor are the balls permitted to contact the tool until a substantial portion thereof is extended into the bore so that a firm grip is had on the tool. Upward movement of the slip socket causes compression of the balls between the bottom faces of the ball races and the surface of the tool due to the fact that the balls and races are of harder material than the tool and therefore bite into the tool to grip it for clamping the tool in the 'slip socket to permit withdrawal of the tool from the well. `YWhen the tool has been withdrawn from the well, the slip socket is moved downwardly to relieve compression of the balls between the tool and races. The slip socket is then tilted to permit the balls tofgravitate outwardly in their races so that the tool may be completely removed from the socket.

Upon removal of the tool thetrap sleeve may be moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 by raising the sleeve on the outer surface of the socket through the slot 25 and loosening the setscrews whereupon the trap sleeve, upon righting the socket, gravitates to ball race closing position. The balls are then returned to their races and the outer sleeve replaced for another tool retrieving operation.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A slip socket of the character described including a body member having a bore, gripping means mounted in said body member communicating with said bore, a sleeve mounted in the body member for selectively cutting off communi.- cation of said gripping means with said bore, means in said body `member for retaining said sleeve within said body member, and means in the body member frictionally engaging the sleeve for retarding movement of the sleeve incidental to contact with non-solid matter.V

- 2. A slip socket of the character described including a'body portion having a bore, gripping means mounted in said body portion communicating with saidv bore, means slidably mounted within said bore for Vselectively cutting off communication of said gripping means'with said bore, and means mounted on the body portion in fixed position and engageable with portions of the slidable means forlirnitingfdownward movement of saidslidable meansV for, normally retaining the slidable means in position to cut off communication of the gripping means from the bore, and means for restraining sliding movement of the slidable means within said limits.

3. A slip socket of the character describedfincluding a body portion having a cylindrical bore, ball races in the body portion communicating with the bore, balls in said races, means slidably i `mounteclin the bore over said races for' selectively retaining the balls in the races, and means frictionally engaging said retaining means in the bore for'retarding movement of the retaining means incidental to contact with non-solid matter. L y j 4. In a device of the character described, a body portion havingA a cylindrical bore,.ball races in the body portion,balls in said races, a trap sleeve slidably mounted in the .bore about said races, means frictionally engaging the trap sleeve in the bore for retarding movement thereof, and a slip sleeve mounted on said body portion for covering the outer ends of said ball races.

5. A slip socket of the character described including a cylindrical body portion having a cylindrical bore therein provided with a flared opening at one end of the socket, an annular series of ball races extending from the outer surface of said socket diagonally, inwardly and downwardly to communicate with said bore, balls in said races for gravitation downwardly to contact an object projecting into said bore, spaced dowels mounted in said body portion and extending into said bore, a trap sleeve having slots mounted on saiddowels for selectively covering the inner entrances of said ball races, friction pins mounted in said body portion and extending into said bore for contact with said trap sleeve, a slip sleeve mounted on the outer surface of said body portion for covering the outer entrances of said ball races, and means on the socket opposite its ared open end for connecting said socket to an actuating means.

6. A slip socket of the character described including a body portion having a bore therein, a series of ball races extending from the outer surface of said socket inwardly and downwardly to communicate with said bore, balls in said races adapted to gravitate downwardly to contact an object projecting into Said bore, spaced dowels mounted in said body portion and extending into said bore, a trap sleeve having slots mounted on said dowels for selectively covering the inner entrances of said ball races, friction pins mounted in said body portion and extending into said bore for contact with said trap sleeve, and a slip sleeve mounted on the outer surface of said body portion for covering the outer entrances of said ball races. l

A slip socket of the character described including a body portion having a bore therein, a series of ball races extending from the outer surface of said socket inwardly and downwardly to communicate with said bore, balls in said races adapted to gravitate downwardly to contact an object projecting into said bore, spaced dowels mounted in said body portion and extending into said bore, a trap sleeve having slots mounted on said dowels for selectively covering the inner entrances of said ball races, and friction pins mounted in said body portion and extending into said bore for contact with said sleeve.

8. A slip socket of the character described including a body portion having a bore therein, a series of ball races extending from the outer surface of said socket inwardly and downwardly to communicate with said bore, balls in said races for gravitation downwardlyto contact an object projecting into said bore, spaced dowels mounted in said body portion and extending into said bore, and a trap sleeve having slots mounted on said dowels for selectively covering the inner entrances of said ball races.

9. A slip socket of the character described including a body member having a bore therein and having passageways leading from the upper end of the bore for venting foreign matter, ball races inthe body member communicating with said bore, balls in said races to contactan object projecting into said bore, and a trap sleeve slidably mounted in said bore for selectively covering said ball races.

l0. A slip socket of the character described including a body portion having a bore therein, a series of ball races extending from the outer surface of vsaid socket inwardly and downwardly to communicate with Vsaid bore, balls in said races adapted to gravitate downwardly to contact an object projecting into said bore, a trap sleeve mounted in said bore for selectively covering the inner entrances of said ball races, and a slip sleeve mounted on the outer surface of said body portion for covering the outer entrances of said ball races.

11. A slip socket of the character described including a body member having a bore therein, and having passageways leading from the upper end of the bore for venting foreign matter, ball races in the body member communicating with said bore, balls in said races to contact an object projecting into said bore, a trap sleeve slidably mounted in said bore for selectively covering said ball races, and means in the body member frictionally engaging the sleeve for retarding movement of the sleeve. Y

LOUIS V. M ALLORY. 

